Spinning toy



' July 11, 1961 w. D. COBB 2,991,586

SPINNING TOY Filed 060. 17, 1958 INVENTOR. h flbu/"n Dowel/Cobb flTmA/VEX United States Patent 2,991,586 SPINNING TOY Wilburn Dowell Cobb,569 Capp St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Oct. '17, 1958, Ser. No.v767,831 '3 Claims. (Cl. 46- 63) The present invention relates to toys ofthe type designed to be spun or whirled in mid-air, and, moreparticularly, to devices for producing audible sounds as thening, it hasvalue as an exercise device in addition to the entertainment it affords.

The entertaining aspect may be enhanced bythe provision of soundingdevices which make a noise as the toy revolves.

The present invention contemplates a spinning-toy constructed to producea unique sound, which may be controlled as to pitch, and which at thesame time provides a novel fanning action to increase the enjoyment ofthe operator.

It is therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providea toy which may be kept in constant reciprocal spinning motion and whichwill produce a novel humming or singing tone, the pitch of which may bevaried to suit the taste of the person playing with the toy.

Another object of the present invention is the provision, in a toy ofthe character described, of a sounding device which utilizes the spin ofthe toy to create air currents which cooperate with the form of thedevice to impart a unique quality to the sound produced.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sounding deviceof the character described which will throw a strong current of airradially of the device to create a tanning action upon the face andtorso of the user.

Other objects and features of advantage of my invention will appear asthe specification proceeds, and the new and useful features of the samewill be fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

The preferred formof my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a spinning toy constructed inaccordance with the present invention. and showing the manner in whichthe toy is operated;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of thespinning portion of the toy of FIG- GURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theplane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it shouldbe understood that various changes or modifications may be made withinthe scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my spinning toy 6 includes adisk-shaped member or body 7, means 8 for spinning the body around itsaxis of revolution, and a resilient membrane 9 mounted in radiallyspaced relation to the rim of body 7, the membrane being parallel to theaxis of the body and tangent to the path of rotation for producing anaudible tone as the toy revolves.

The means 8 for spinning the toy includes an. endless 1 loop, theopposite strands 11 and 12 of of which pass through holes 13 and 14formed parallel to and equidistant -from the axis 16 of the body 7.

When the strands 11 and 12 are intertwined as shown in the drawing, astrong outward pull on the outer extremities. of the loop will causethem to unwind and spin the body 7. Repetition of this action serves tokeep the toy spinning alternately forward andbackward.

Suitable handles 17 and 18 may be inserted at the outer extremities ofthe loop to protect the hands of the operator.

The membrane means 9 may consist of any suitable flexible or resilientmaterial which will flutter and vibrate in its passage through the airto produce audible tones.

Preferably, the membrane is in the form of a narrow, elongated ribbonmounted edgewise to its rotary course. It has been found that ordinaryrubber bands to possess the requisite characteristics.

As here shown, the rubber bands 9 are mounted upon.

pairs of posts 19 and 21 mounted in circumferentially balanced relationaround the rim. of the body 7, four pairs of posts being illustrated.More or less posts may be provided, but they should preferably be spacedevenly around the periphery so the toy will spin without wobbling.

The posts 19 and 21 are positioned to provide a relatively wide span forthe ribbons 9, that is, a span wider than the width of the body 7. Forthis purpose the posts are mounted to slant sidewise with respect to thebody 7 in opposite directions, as may be seen in FIGURE 3.

The posts 19 and 21 may be of anysuitable configuration, but preferablyhave their outer tips somewhat larger than the shank for purposes to bediscussed. Common small eye bolts are satisfactory for this purpose,.the threaded end being screwed into the body: 7 which may.-

be made of wood or the like.

In accordance with the present invention, the tension on the ribbons 9stretched between the posts 19 and 21 may be varied to increase ordecrease the vibratory rate and hence raise or lower the pitch of thetone produced. This is accomplished by passing the ribbon over theenlarged tips of the posts and securing the ribbon ends to the shanks ofthe posts by rubber bands 22 tied tightly around the posts and ribbonend.

The bands 22. will hold the ribbons in place, but pulling on eitherribbon end will force the ribbon through the band and make it more taut.The elasticity and friction characteristics of the rubber bands andribbons, plus the enlarged tips of the posts, will then hold the ribbonin place under the increased tension.

As an important feature of the present invention, a central peripheralgroove 23 is provided inthe body 7. This groove cooperates with the formand location of the ribbons 9 to create the unique sound as the toyrevolves.

The spinning motion of the toy tends to draw air in from the sides andeject it radially outwardly in the manner indicated by the arows inFIGURES 1 and 3. Due to this centrifugal force the air is continuouslythrown out of and sucked into the groove and, in passing the membrane,produces a novel vibratory effect in addition to the vibrations causedby the rapid rotation of the toy. The result is an oscillating, whizzingsound which has been found to enhance the pleasure of the operator.

The groove 23' is here conveniently provided by forming the body 7 oftwo disks Z4 and 26 mounted in spaced relation on an axial shaft 27 todefine the slot or groove 23 therebetween.

The ribbons 9 are arranged with their middle portions extending acrossthe groove 23, the posts 19 and 21 Patented July 11, 1961 3 beingscrewed into the rimportions of the disks 24 and 26, as shown in FIGURE3 of the drawing.

In operation, the handles 17 and 18 are grasped as illustrated inFIGURE 1. The body 7 is rotated to twist the cords together as byswinging in a narrow circle. The handles are then pulled apart and theunwinding cord imparts rapid rotation to the body.

Momentum causes this rotation to "continue past the unwound point and towind up the cord in the opposite direct on, the outward pressure on thehandles 17 and 18 being slaekened to permit the rewinding. When therotation stops, resumptionof the outward pressure will cause the toy tospin in the opposite direction.

As the body 7 spins, the air is drawn in from the sides past the posts,and through the holes 13 and 14, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3of'the drawing. The rapid edgewise movement of the ribbons 9 throughthese .air currents produces the novel and unique sound which makes thetoy so attractive.

The radial currents of generated have considerable force. In fact, thisforce combined with centrifugal force is suflicient to cause the ribbons9 to bow outwardly to the position indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE3 as the toy spins. These currents have a further effect in fanning theface and chest of the operator to increase the pleasure derived from theoperation of the toy.

I claim:

1. In a toy of the character described, a pair of spaced and paralleldiscs having an axial shaft connecting the same and having registeringtransverse holes on opposite sides of the shaztt, endless loop havingspaced strands passing through said holes and operable 'for impartingrapid rotary motion to the discs, said strands being thinner than saidholes so as to admit air therethrou'gh, pairs of postsprojectingoutwardly from the rims of the discs in balanced relation, and amembrane supported by each pair of posts in spaced relation to said rimsand parallel to the axis of rotation, and across the space between thediscs and with its width tangent to the rotary course so as to create anaudible tone and -a fanning action.

2. In a toy of the character described, a pair ofspaced and paralleldiscs having an axial shafit connecting the sameand having registeringtransverse holes on opposite slant sidewise in opposite directions toincrease the spacing between their outer tips, ribbons of elasticmaterial stretched between the outer tips of each pair of posts parallelto said shaft and across the spaces between the discs edgewise to theirrotary course so as to create a combined audible sound and farmingaction, and elastic bandsadjustably securing the opposite ends of saidribbons to said posts, whereby the amount of tension on said ribbon may"be varied by forcing either of said ribhon ends toward or awayfrom'said tips.

3. In a spinning toy of the character described, a shafit, a pair ofdiscs mounted in spaced and parallel relation on said shaft tovdefine anarrow slot of uniform width therebetween, means for spinning said discsabout the axis-of said shaft, means for expelling a current ofairradially from said slot upon said spinning, and a resilient ribbonmounted in spaced relation to the rims of said discs and extendingacross said slot, with its width tangent to its rotary course, so as tovibrate in response to both the passage of said ribbon through the airaround said shaft and to said current of air expelled from said slot andsons to create a combined audible sound and a tanning action.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,051,966 Money Feb. 4, 1913 1,434,910 Murph'cy Nov. 7,1922

2,525,221 Hinson Oct. 10, 1950 2,561,179 Carney et a1. July 17, 19612,608,025 -Mil1er Aug. 26, 1 952 FOREIGN PATENTS 326,717 Germany Sept.12, 19119

